CD4(+) T cells from MHC II-dependent thymocyte-thymocyte interaction provide efficient help for B cells

Immunol Cell Biol. 2011 Nov;89(8):897-903. doi: 10.1038/icb.2011.8. Epub 2011 Mar 1.

Abstract

Recently, a novel CD4(+) T-cell developmental pathway was reported that generates thymocyte-thymocyte (T-T) CD4(+) T cells. We established a mouse system (CIITA(tg)CIITApIV(-/-)) where thymic positive selection occurred only by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II(+) thymocytes. T-T CD4(+) T cells selected via MHC class II-dependent T-T interaction are comprised of PLZF-negative and innate PLZF-positive populations. Until recently, the functional role of the PLZF-negative population was unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that naïve T-T CD4(+) T cells provide B-cell help to a level comparable with that of naïve conventional CD4(+) T cells. Considering the absence of PLZF expression in naïve T-T CD4(+) T cells, these results suggest that PLZF-negative naïve T-T CD4(+) T cells are functionally equivalent to conventional naïve CD4(+) T cells in terms of B-cell help.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • B-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / metabolism*
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II / immunology
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein
  • Thymocytes / immunology*
  • Thymocytes / metabolism

Substances

  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • Promyelocytic Leukemia Zinc Finger Protein
  • Zbtb16 protein, mouse